Automatic telephone switch



June 30, 1925.

2 Sheets-Shed 1 Filed April so, 1923 I ll 1 I i lllllllllll "ill!""lllfilll June 30, 1925. 1,543,669

- C.L.GOODRUM ETAL AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE swx'rcn Filed April 30, 19232-Sheets-$heat 2 Ml e/7700: mar/65L Goa/rum 0300/ f/Zwbe/y.

Patented June 30, 1925.

uurrsns'rarss CHARLES L- GOODBUM, OF NEW YORK, AND OSCAR F. EOBSBEBGIOF. YONKERS, NEW YOZRK,.ASSIGNOR8 TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY,INCORPORATED, .OF .NEW 'YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF YORK.

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE swr'rcni To all whom it may some 2 RUM and OscAnF. F

county of New York, State ,ofNew- York,

and Yonkers, in the county of .Westchestfl', State 0i.New. York,respectively, have .invented certain new; andiuseinl Improvemen s inAutomatic Telephone Switches,-of which the following; is a full, clear,concise, and

exact description.

semi-automatic 5 telephone switches. More particularly, it refers tocoordinate switches such as are used for establishing connection in atelephone exchange system of the ty e disclosed in British Patent No.183,438,

sued to Western Electric Company Ltd, ac-

o cepted September 6, 1923', in whichthe pres 2 for use.

The object of thelinvention is to provide an improved .form ofcoordinate switch. which will be simple, efficient and in which theparts of the operating .mechanism are readily accessible for adjustmentor repair.

A feature of the invention resides; in the provision of unitary sets offlat contact springs arranged on insulating supports and insulatingcards for holding them in spaced non-contacting relation. 7

Another feature is the provision of, a novel operating mechanism foractuating the horizontal bars whereby the liftingmembers, carriedthereby are, moved into opersting relation with the .operatin cardthrough the sequential movement 0 a plurality of magnet arniatures. 1

Another feature is the provision 1 of a jointed selecting bar in whichthe loose motion of the joints is eliminated by means of a springattached to its upper end. and dis-i posed-to act against the pullv ofthe magnet. in order to keep the operating members car ried thereby inalignment.

Another feature is the provision Of flBXlble arinatures for o cratingthe vertical bars whereby the angu ar distance of each bar is controlledby means of stopping members independently of the stnoke adjustment ofits 0 crating electromagnetic'means.

Ot ier features of invention and advan tages will appear from thefollowing deout invention is particularly well adapted Application filedApril 30, 1923. wSerial N0. 635,490.

scription, and by the claims appended thereto, reference being had, tothe acconipany mg drawings in which Fig. 1 is a topseotional View of aportion ofsaid switch, lug. 2, is a leftshand side view thereof, Fig} 3is a frontlassembly view-of :a setof active:

and passive contacts showing a selecting: arm in cross section viewedapproximately on line-3-3 of Fig. 1, Fig. ,4 is a front sectional viewof the same contactset; but taken e on line of Figsl, Fig. 5 is. anenlarged. This invention relates to automatic and cross section view ofthe selecting arm taken. approximately on line 5+5 of Fig.1, show- .ing;diagrammatically the sequential movement of the lifting niembersFig, 6is a sectional view of an operatingbar taken approximately onqline 6-6ofFig. 1, Fig. 7 isv a, sectional..-:view of -an;oper-ating barv showingthe position ofthe armatures relative to :their respective operatingelectromagnets, taken approximately on line 77 ofFig'. 1, Fig. 8 IS atop view ofthe se-- lcctiug bar with thecoupling shownin cross sectiontaken approximately on line 8-S of Fig. 2. I i

. PATENT.OF'FICEI Theswitchingstructure shown in Figs. 1

and 2 generally comprisesa plurality of unitary sets of active andpassive contact springs arranged on the insulating supports 10 rigidlyfastened on the switch frame. (not shown).

Each contact set comprises a number-of. stationary contact 3 rings-11,12,13 and 14 which are associate with a corresponding number of movablecontact springs-15, 16, 17' andJS, respectively; The active and passivecontacts of each set are located inen. gageable relation in-rectangular,shaped slots19 and-20 of a stationary card .21.

The cards 21 are each fixedlyarranged on two laterally extending arms 23and 24, integrally formed with thereinforcingplates- 25am 26 which arerigidly fastened on two opposite sides of supports 10 by any suitable 7fastening means.

The operatingfcard 22 is slidably arranged between therstationarycard21and the inwardly bent portions 25 and 26 of arms 23 and: 24,respectively- Theinsulating supports 10 may carry any number ofunitarysets ofcontact springs 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, 16, 17, 1.8,,etc.,.and the switch structure may comprise any numher of supports 10,depending upon the switch capacity desired.

For each horizontal row of contacts there is provided an operating bar27 having a number of laterally extending arms 28, and on each arm 28there is provided a lifting member 29 which has one end hooked on thebar QT and held in adjusted position on arm 28 by means of a screw 30and a stop 31.

For each vertical row of contacts, there is provided a selecting bar 32provided with a number of arms It is to be noted that normally thelifting members 29 are free to move in a vertical path without engagingthe cards with which they are associated as shown at 51 in Fig. 3.

For convenience in assembling the switch, the selecting bar 32 ispreferably made of a number of relatively short bars which are disposedcoaxially and coupled by means of a universal joint 34, shown in Fig. 2.T he universal joint 34 shown in cross section, Fig. 8, generallycomprises a sleeve 57 having two holes orilled at right angles relativeto each other and adapted to receive the pins 55 and 56, each of whichis adapted to operatively connect its respective bar 32 to the sleeve57. On the lower end of bar 32, there is rigidly secured an arm 35,disposed in operable relation with a resilient armature 36 associatedwith an electromagnet $37. The arm 38 which is an extension of arm isrigidly secured on the bar 32 and engages an adjustable stop 39 providedfor limiting the movement of the bar 32 in normal non-operating positionagainst the resistance of a spring 40 acting on a pin 5% secured to theupper end of rod 32 and adapted to hold the arms 33 in alignment.Therefore, by means of this combination of parts, it is seen that thecoupling pins 55 and 56 do not need to be tightly adjusted in order tohold the arms 33 in alignment for the looseness of the pins isautomatically taken up by the tension of spring 40 which holds the barsand coupling tensioned against the stop 39 and its operating armature Anadjustable stop a1 is provided for limiting the movement of the bar 32in adjusted position with reference to the lifting members 29 servedthereby against'the resistance of the resilient armature 36 whereby theangular distance of the bar 232 may be adjusted independently of thestroke of its operating electromagnetic means.

For each bar 27 there is provided a pair of armatures l2 and 1-?)adapted to rotate the bar in response to the successive energization ofelectromagnets it and 45. Magnet llis associated with armature 42 whichis pivotallv arranged on the bar 27 and held in adjusted positionrelative to its operating magnet by means of an adjustable stop l6.

Magnet $3 is associated with armature 45 which is rigidly fastened onthe bar 27 by means of a number of rivets 47. A stop 48 arranged on aportion of the switch frame is provided to hold the bar in normalnonoperated position against the resistance of the retracting spring 49,hooked on the downward extending lug 50 of the bar 27 shown in Figs. 6and 7.

The sequential movement of the lifting members, relative to theoperating cards, is shown diagrammatically in Figs. 3 and wherein thelifting member 29 is shown in normal non-operated position. \Vhen thebar 27 is moved one step through the energization of magnet 44, thelifting members thereon are moved in operating relation with theirassociated arms 33, as shown at in Fig. 3, whereupon the movement of theselecting bar 32 moves the lifting members in operating relation withthe operating cards 22, as shown at The second step of bar 27 impartedthrough the energization of magnet 45 is thereby effective to lift theoperating card for engaging the contact springs and to move the liftingmembers in positions wherein any subsequent movement of the selectingbar 32 is ineffective to dis tnrb the connection already established.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a switching device, the combination of disengaged contacts, anoperating bar therefor, electromagnets for operating said bar, aresilient member carried by said bar and movable sequentially in aplurality of coordinate directions for operating said contacts.

2. In a switching device, the combination of sets of disengagedcontacts, a rotatably operating bar therefor, an arm integrally formedtherewith, an operating member supported thereby and movable in separatesteps in a plurality of coordinate directions, a rotatable bar havingmeans for operating said member whereby it is effective to cause theinterengageinent of said contacts.

3. In a switching device, the combination of disengaged sets ofcontacts, an operating mechanism therefor comprising a bar, a pair ofmagnets for actuating said bar step by step, resilient members carriedby said bar and movable sequentially in different directions, anotherbar for moving said members in one of said directions after the firststep of the first mentioned bar, another n'iagnet for operating said bara second step for engaging said contacts.

4. In a switching device, sets of normally disengaged active and passivecontacts arranged on an insulating support, reinforcing plates on eachside of said support, an arm laterally extending from each of saidplates, a card fixedly arranged on said arms for holding said contactsin engageable relation, a movable card arranged on said supports foroperating said active contacts, and

means sequentially operated for moving the second mentioned card toeffect the interengagement of said contacts.

5. In a switching device, sets of normally disengaged active and passivecontacts arranged in coordinate rows on insulating supports, a selectingmechanism therefor, comprising a stepping bar for each row of saidactive contacts, operable members carried by each of said bars andnormally movable step-by-step in a path wherein they are ineffective toengage contacts, a bar common to said members in one of said rows andmeans thereon for operating any one of said members with reference tosaid contacts, and another magnet for rotating the stepping bar anotherstep to cause the interengagement of said active and passive contacts.

6. In a switching device, a plurality of sets of active and passivecontacts arranged in coordinate rows, a pair of coordinately disposedbars therefor, means for rotating one of said bars in a number of steps,magnetic means for operating the other bar to render the movement of thestepping bar effective with respect to said active contacts.

7. In a coordinate switch structure, a row of unitary sets of normallydisengaged active and passive contacts disposed in a common plane, astep-by-step movable bar common to said sets, a plurality of armsintegrally formed therewith, one for each of said sets, an operablemember on each of said arms movable in plane at right angles to the ionitudinal axis of said bar, a selecting bar or each of said sets andmeans carried thereby for moving one of said members in said plane afterthe first movement and while the first mentioned bar is at rest, andmeans for operating the last mentioned bar another step for causing theinterengagement of said active and passive contacts.

8. In a coordinate switch structure, coordinately disposed rows ofunitary sets of disengaged active and passive contacts, a mechanism forselectively engaging said contacts comprising a stepping bar for eachhorizontal row of said contacts, operable members carried thereby, aselecting bar for each vertical row of said contacts, a magnet foroperating the stepping bar one step to move said members in positionwherein a movement of a vertical bar is effective to move one of saidmembers in operative relation with a set of active contacts, anothermagnet for moving the stepping bar another step for engaging thecontacts of that selected set.

9. In a switching device, a jointed selectalignment against said stopregardless of the looseness in the couplings.

10. In a coordinate switch structure, the

combination of a plurality of unitary sets of disengaged active andpassive contacts arranged in a row, a jointed selecting bar therefor,operating members arranged on said bar each associated with one of saidsets, an armature attached on one end of said bar, an adjustable stopfor limiting the movement of said bar, a retracting spring attached onthe other end of said bar to hold said bar and operating members thereonin adjusted position regardless of the angular looseness in the joints.

11.111 a switching device, disengaged contacts, an operable barassociated with saidcontacts, a stepping mechanism for rotating said barcomprising a magnet, an armature pivotally arranged on said bar andresponsive to the energization of said magnet for rotating the bar onestep, another armature securely arranged on said bar for moving said baranother step for engaging said contacts.

12. In a switching device, a selecting bar, an operating magnettherefor, a resilient armature, in operable engagement with said bar,and a stop for arresting said bar in adjusted position against theresistance of said armature when attracted by said magnet.

13. In a switching structure, the combination of normally disengagedstationary and operable contacts, an operating mech anism thereforcomprising a bar, a plurality of electromagnetic means for moving saidbar, step-by-step operable members carried by said bar and normallymovable in a path wherein they are ineffective with respect to saidcontacts, another bar for mo"- ing said members in a direction at rightangles to said paths after a movement of the first mentioned bar, meansincluded in the first mentioned means for interengaging said contactsand for moving said members wherein any subsequent movements of thesecond mentioned bar is ineffective to disturb the connection alreadyestablished.

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names this 26 day of AprilA. D., 1923.

CHARLES L. GOODRUM. OSCAR F. FORSBERG.

